Administration

George Shambaugh
Director
Professor Shambaugh was appointed to his position as director in July 2020. Dr. Shambaugh has been teaching MSFS students since he first joined Georgetown in 1994 as a jointly-appointed faculty member in the Government Department and the School of Foreign Service. Professor Shambaugh teaches courses in International Politics at MSFS.

Ashley Thomas Lenihan
Deputy Director
Professor Lenihan is Professor in the Practice of International Affairs and Deputy Director of the MSFS Program. At MSFS, Professor Lenihan teaches courses on international politics and the intersection of economics and security.

Meg Gardinier
Director of Academic and Faculty Affairs
Meg Gardinier works with faculty and students on course offerings, registration, degree requirements, and progress towards graduation.

Matt Wootten
Assistant Director of Academic and Faculty Affairs
Matt Wootten works under Meg Gardinier with faculty and students on course offerings, registration, degree requirements, and progress toward graduation for the program. He serves as an academic advisor for all MSFS students.

Ryan Arey
Director of Admissions
Ryan Arey oversees all matters pertaining to recruitment, admissions, scholarship, and marketing. She meets with prospective students, counsels applicants, and chairs the Admissions Committee. She also manages the merit-based awards for MSFS. Ryan travels domestically and internationally to meet with prospective students and alumni.

Careena Manoukian
Assistant Director of Admissions
Careena Manoukian works under Ryan Arey with areas of recruitment, admissions, scholarship, and marketing. She promotes the admission process by meeting with prospective students, counseling applicants, and serving on the Admissions Committee. Careena travels domestically and internationally to meet with prospective students  and alumni.

Maggie Collins
Assistant Director of Operations
Maggie Collins manages finance and operations for the MSFS program.

Kavya Sankhavaram
Events and Communications Manager
Kavya Sankhavaram manages all communications for the MSFS program, including social media, website updates, and the weekly events newsletter. She also runs on-campus and Zoom events for the program, including Tropaia, concentration-specific seminars, and practitioner in residence sessions.

Paul Miller
Concentration Co-Chair in Global Politics & Security, Professor of the Practice
Professor Miller is Professor in the Practice of International Affairs and Concentration Co-Chair for Global Politics & Security. At MSFS, Professor Miller teaches on international and national security and the gateway/foundation course for the GPS concentration.

Joseph Helman
Concentration Co-Chair in Global Politics & Security; Distinguished Fellow and Adjunct Professor
Dr. Helman is a career intelligence officer and comes to MSFS from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. He teaches classes on national and international security and provides academic and professional advising for MSFS students.

Jodi Vittori
Concentration Co-Chair in Global Politics & Security, Professor of the Practice
Professor Vittori is Professor in the Practice of International Affairs and Concentration Co-Chair for Global Politics & Security. At MSFS, Professor Vittori teaches courses on international and national security and the gateway/foundation course for the GPS concentration.

Shantayanan Devarajan
Concentration Chair in International Development, Professor in the Practice of International Affairs
Professor Devarajan is Professor in the Practice of International Affairs and Concentration Chair in International Development. Prior to joining MSFS, he served as the World Bank’s Senior Director for Development Economics. Prof. Devarajan teaches courses on development policy, the economics of development, and climate change and development.

Theresa Sabonis-Helf
Concentration Chair, Science, Technology, and International Affairs, Adjunct Professor
Professor Sabonis-Helf is the chair for the forthcoming concentration in Science, Technology, and International Affairs in MSFS. In addition to her role at MSFS, she is a Professor of National Security Strategy at the National War College and advises governments on climate change policies, post-Soviet energy and environmental issues, regional and international energy trade, and the politics of electricity.

David Wallis
Concentration Chair in Global Business, Finance, and Society, Professor in the Practice of International Affairs
Professor Wallis is Professor in the Practice of International Affairs and Concentration Chair for Global Business and Finance, MSFS. Prior to joining the MSFS leadership team, Professor Wallis engaged in a global business career working within the financial services industry.